12 What's better: rural life or city life in Japan?
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What's better: rural life or city life in Japan? Topics Discussed The pros and cons of living in rural Japan The pros and cons of living in a big city in Japan Life in Ishikawa Prefecture Life in Kobe Life in Osaka Where Ishikawa Prefecture is located Whether rural people are friendlier than city people in Japan Eating udon meshi at Sururi in Shinjuku, Tokyo Eating gator in Ueno, Tokyo Magic: The Gathering in Japan The not so great rainy wather of Ishikawa Cheap and/or free housing in rural Japan Ishikawa's delicious carrots How Japan's declining population is affecting Japan's rual areas The general lack of adults in their 20s and 30s in rual Japan And more! Note: This episode was recorded before the declaration of the global coronavirus pandemic. While you should visit Japan as Ryan suggests, obviously, April 2020 is a pretty bad time to try to do so. Support on Patreon If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support on Patreon Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Inaka 田舎 【いなか(gikun)】 (n,adj-no) (1) (sens) rural area; countryside; the sticks; (2) hometown Beddotaun ベッドタウン : ベッドタウン; ベットタウン(ik); ベッド・タウン; ベット・タウン(ik) (n) commuter town (wasei: bed town); bedroom community; dormitory town Kisha 汽車 【きしゃ】 (n) (1) train (esp. long distance train); (2) (orig. meaning) steam train We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan
12 Huhti 202047min
11 What is the Curse of the Colonel?
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is the Curse of the Colonel? Topics Discussed What the famous Curse of the Colonel is How tall and how heavy the statues of Colonel Sanders that are seen at Japanese KFC locations are How the tradition of the Dotombori Dive began The Hanshin Tigers How the Hanshin Tigers were named after the Detroit Tigers Why a statue of Colonel Sanders was thrown into the Dotombori River in 1985 Randy Bass and his connection to the Curse of the Colonel How the missing statue of the Colonel was found in the Dotombori River in 2009 The tradition of the Dotombori Dive and some of the deaths and accidents that have resulted from it What parts of the Colonel Sanders statue remain missing Whether the Hanshin Tigers remain cursed Where the statue of Colonel Sanders that was thrown into the Dotombori River in 1985 is today How Randy Bass' name changed when he began playing in Japan What Randy Bass did after going back to the US in 1988 The suicide of Shingo Furuya And more! Note: Japanese-language sources do indeed indicate that the name of the Hanshin Tigers was based on that of the Detroit Tigers. Support on Patreon If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support on Patreon Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Hanshin 阪神 【はんしん】 (n) (1) Osaka-Kobe; (2) Hanshin (company name: railway, dept. store, baseball team, etc.) We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan
7 Huhti 202044min
10 What is Panty Town?
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Panty Town? Topics Discussed The town of Shimogigaoka (下木ヶ丘) and its plan to use panty vending machines for publicity The history of the town of Shimogigaoka What fundoshi are How rural towns across Japan are trying to both boost tourism and attract new residents through various headline-grabbing PR stunts Whether "Panty Town" is real And more! Support on Patreon If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undying gratitude Support on Patreon Sources, Links, Videos, Etc. To check out the article about the guy that takes off his fundoshi in all sorts of funny and creative ways, use the link below. Fundoshi Man Teaches You 6 Creative (And Funny) Ways To Take Off Your Sexy Japanese Underwear (Video) You can check out the April Fools' Day Japankyo articles below. Sumo Wrestlers Must Compete Nude Declares Japan Sumo Association AKB48 Creator Announces All Baby Reiwa-Themed Pop Idol Group Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Fundoshi ふんどし (n) (1) fundoshi; loincloth; traditional Japanese men's undergarment made from a length of cotton; (2) kimono underskirt; (3) (sumo) wrestler's ornamental apron Shitagi 下着 【したぎ】 (n) underwear We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes https://www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan
1 Huhti 202028min
09 Was Momotaro a thief? (All About Peach Bob)
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Was Momotarō a thief? Topics Discussed The folktale/fairy tale of Momotarō Whether Peach Boy is a good English title for Momotarō How old the story of Momotarō is Kunio Yanagita The most common motifs of the Momotarō story Some of the many variations that exist of the story of Momotarō The possible connection between Kehi Shrine in the city of Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture,and the tale of Momotarō The connection between Kinashi in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture and the story of Momotarō Okayama Prefecture's push to associate themselves with the story of Momotarō The origins of Momotarō Shrine (Momotarō Jinja) in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture and what you can expect to see there The photograph of mummified oni remains that was and may still be on display at Momotaro Shrine What the oldest printed copy of Momotarō is Momotarō Gempuku Sugata (1779), an Edo Period dark sequel to Momotarō in which the daughter of the oni of Onigashima gets sent to kill Momotarō but instead falls in love with him and then kills herself Whether Momotarō was justified in his actions How Momotarō has changed over the centuries Momotarō's adoption as a symbol of right wing nationalism The link between Onigashima and real world places like Hawaii, Taiwan, and Singapore A mock trial held by elementary school students in Shizuoka Prefecture in order to determine whether Momotarō was justified in his actions Yotsuba Kuramochi and her expansive research intended to determine whether the oni really were the villains in the story of Momotarō What happens when artificial intelligence tries to interpret the story of Momotarō And more! Support on Patreon If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support on Patreon Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. One 鬼 【おに(P); き】 (n) (1) ogre; demon; oni Momo 桃 【もも(P); モモ】 (n) peach (Prunus persica) We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes Was Momotaro a thief? (All About Peach Bob) | Ichimon Japan 09
27 Maalis 202059min
08 What are your Japanese studying tips?
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What are your Japanese studying tips? Topics Discussed How and why Tony and Ryan started studying Japanese The structure of Japanese Strategies and tips for studying Japanese and any foreign language The difficult part about learning Japanese Whether Japanese is a complex language The usefulness of talking to yourself in Japanese and rehearsing conversations Using anime, movies, music, and video games as tools for studying Japanese Strategies for sounding more natural in Japanese Reading kanji The importance of learning things in context The importance of doing things you like as a way to practice Japanese Why video games can be a good tool for learning Japanese The importance of using language as a tool The importance of making mistakes Using YouTube videos as a tool for learning Japanese The importance of figuring out what strategies work best for you The importance of daily practice and study Practicing writing Japanese The benefits of talking to native speakers Textbook Japanese vs the casual Japanese found in the real world How simple Japanese grammar is And more! Sources, Links, Videos, Etc. If this episode got you motivated to buy some resources for learning Japanese, then please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. japankyo.com/amazon Here is the first book Tony purchased after taking an interest in the Japanese language. This is an Amazon affiliate link. Easy Hiragana: First Steps to Reading and Writing Basic Japanese (Passport Books) (English and Japanese Edition) by Fujihiko Kaneda For anyone interested in practicing writing in Japanese, one great resource that was mentioned during this episode is the website Lang-8. Lang-8.com Also mentioned during this episode is the app Hello Talk. Hello Talk If you would like to purchase the Genki textbooks, you can do so via the Amazon affiliate link below. Genki 1 2 , Learning Japanese for Beginners 4 Book Bundle Set , An Integrated Course in Elementary Workbook and Textbook With Original Sticky Notes In case you have not listened to the "intestines" episode of Ichimon Japan that was mentioned during this episode, you can do so by using the link below. Do Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners? | Ichimon Japan 02 If you're interested in checking out the latest episode of Japan Station, featuring Dr. Richard Samuels, an expert on the history of the Japanese intelligence community and espionage, then please go to the page linked below. The Japanese Intelligene Community & Espionage (Dr. Richard Samuels) | Japan Station 34 Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Yōchien 幼稚園 【ようちえん】 (n) kindergarten Yūenchi 遊園地 【ゆうえんち】 (n) amusement park Ijō 以上 【いじょう】 (n-adv,n-t) (1) (See 余・1) not less than; ... and more; ... and upwards; (2) beyond ... (e.g. one's means); further (e.g. nothing further to say); more than ... (e.g. cannot pay more than that); (3) above-mentioned; foregoing; (4) since ...; seeing that ...; (5) this is all; that is the end; the end Kaenbin 火炎瓶 【かえんびん】 (n) Molotov cocktail; petrol bomb; gasoline bomb We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews)
17 Maalis 202044min
07 What was it like in Fukushima during the Tohoku earthquake? (Part 2)
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What was it like in Fukushima during the Tohoku earthquake? Note: This is part two of a two part series. If you have not listened to part one, you should go back and listen to it first. Topics Discussed What it was like being in Iwaki City, Fukushima in the days following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake Evacuating from Iwaki to Sapporo The experience of volunteering along the Tohoku coast The long term effects of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster on the region Tohoku region And more! We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Ichimon Japan Full Show Notes japankyo.com/ichimonjapan
6 Maalis 202037min
06 What was it like in Fukushima during the Tohoku earthquake? (Part 1)
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What was it like in Fukushima during the Tohoku earthquake? Note: This is part one of a two part series. Topics Discussed A firsthand account of what the 2011 Tohoku earthquake felt like in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture The 2011 tsunami The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and concerns over radiation What some English teachers in Iwaki City in Fukushima Prefecture did after the earthquake What it was like being in Osaka and Kobe during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake The lack of commercials on Japanese TV in the days following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake And more! We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Check out Japan Station If you would like to learn more about the effects of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, you should check out episode nine of the Japan Station podcast. This episode features an interview with Richard Lloyd Parry, author of Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan's Disaster Zone. Japan Station 09: Ghosts of the Tsunami (Richard Lloyd Parry) And just in case you'd like to purchase Ghosts of the Tsunami, consider using the Amazon affiliate link below to support Ichimon Japan. Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan's Disaster Zone More Ichimon Japan Daniel Legare also appeared on episode four of Ichimon Japan, which you can check out via the link below What’s it like being a “fake priest” in Japan? | Ichimon Japan 04 For full show notes of all Ichimon Japan episodes visit: https://japankyo.com/ichimonjapan
28 Helmi 202039min
05 What's the deal with fish girl on a cliff? (Ponyo)
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What's the deal with "fish girl on a cliff?" And by "fish girl on a cliff" we mean the 2008 Studio Ghibli film Ponyo. Topics Discussed The general reception of Ponyo Whether Ponyo was better received in the West or in Japan The "catchiness" of the theme from Ponyo A review of the major events of Ponyo Ponyo's fondness of human blood The meaning of Ponyo's name and an analysis of why Sosuke chose the name Ponyo Some of the omissions found in the English dub The relationship between Sosuke and Risa Sosuke's mother's reckless driving and her carefree personality Why Sosuke does not call Risa "mom" or "mother" (i.e. the prevalence of yobisute in Ponyo) Some of the most memorable scenes in Ponyo Random Ponyo trivia The peculiar interaction between Ponyo, Sosuke, and the stranded young couple holding a baby Some of the themes and possible messages found within Ponyo Speculation about what the supposedly planned Ponyo sequel could have been like What Hayao Miyazaki has said about what might happen to Ponyo and Sosuke after the end of Ponyo Whether Ponyo and Sosuke's relationship could be described as "romantic" How we think Ponyo stacks up to other Studio Ghibli films Whether we enjoyed Ponyo or not And more! We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Listen to Japan Station Check out episode 32 of Japan Station via the link below. Chatting About Shinobi Mysteries w. Susan Spann | Japan Station 32 Full Ichimon Japan Show Notes https://www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan
18 Helmi 20201h 4min
